ICYMI, I recently wrote a piece called “Is Your HR Strategy Hope and Vibes?”
If you missed it, here it is: https://medium.com/@marilyn_57952/is-your-hr-strategy-hope-vibes-d127bfbc499c
It hit a nerve—and not just because the vibes were off.
A lot of small business owners and startup founders realized something uncomfortable: their “HR strategy” was mostly good intentions, duct tape, and maybe a Google Doc from 2018.
If that’s you: great news. The first step is realizing it. The second step is doing something about it.
Here are three ways to start building a real HR foundation without going full corporate:
✅ Write it down.
If policies live in someone’s head, they don’t exist. Create simple, clear onboarding, job descriptions, and expectations. Don’t wait for the next crisis.
✅ Make culture operational.
Culture isn’t a feeling. It’s a system. Define your values, reinforce them, and make them show up in how you hire, lead, and promote.
✅ Get help.
You don’t need to become an HR expert. You just need one in your corner. That’s where I come in.
You didn’t start your business to spend your days mediating drama or Googling “can I fire someone for this?”
So stop living in the HR grey zone.
Let’s get real systems in place before the next vibe check turns into a resignation.
📩 DM me or visit https://peoplebridgeadvisory.com
#HRStrategy #SmallBusinessGrowth #CultureByDesign #PeopleOps #LeadershipSupport
